High-flying Selby RUFC keep West Leeds at bay (From York Press)

High-flying Selby RUFC keep West Leeds at bay

9:59am Monday 18th February 2013 in Rugby Union

IN-FORM Selby RUFC maintained their push for promotion from Yorkshire Two with a 23-16 victory over top-five rivals West Leeds.

The win keeps the Swans second in the table, eight points behind leaders Doncaster Phoenix with a game in hand.

West Leeds took the lead with a Scott Evans penalty after nine minutes, but Selby replied on 17 minutes with a 21st try of the season for full-back Dan Porter. Josh Cruise converted for a 7-3 lead.

West Leeds pulled back to within a point when Evans dropped a goal, and they went 13-7 in front when flanker Steve Anderson touched down for a try and Evans added the extras.

A Cruise penalty in first-half injury time reduced Selby’s deficit to three points at the break.

Cruise tied the scores up with a penalty on 44 minutes and he was also successful with a kick on 51 minutes.

Five minutes later it was 23-13 when a tap penalty saw Alex Webster touching down for a superb try after good work by scrum-half Jack Daniels and Cruise, who converted.

Evans, who missed three second-half kicks at goal, sent over a penalty on 72 minutes, but the Swans’ defence held out for the win.

Before the game there was a minute’s silence in memory of former Selby, Headingley and Yorkshire stalwart Oliver Grieveson, who has died aged 83.

Meanwhile, York maintained their grip on a top-five place in Yorkshire One.

The Clifton Parkers were 16-3 winners at Heath on Saturday, their tenth victory of the campaign.

Coach Sean Bass’ men are nine points ahead of sixth-placed North Ribblesdale and 12 points behind fourth-placed Ilkley.

Scarborough were North Ribblesdale’s victims, losing 30-25 at home.

Basement side York RI crashed 62-0 at Old Modernians in Yorkshire Three.

A haul of five first-half tries saw the visitors trail 31-0 at the break, and the second half mirrored the first as RI shipped another 31 points.

RI battled manfully, but were on the end of a poor decision as Mods were awarded a try which was short of the line, while they also lost two men to the sin-bin.

Tom Greaves put in some fantastic tackles and stood out for RI.